Improvement in folding tables



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. HOWLAND AND DELLA HOWLAND, OF NEW HAVEN, CONN.

t IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 161,123, dated March 23, 1875; application filed July 25, 1874.-

To all whom it may concern Beit known that we, JAMEs W. HoWLANp and DELLA HowLAND, of New Haven, in the county of New Havenl and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Portable Folding Table, of which the following is a specification:

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a table constructed according to our invention, the section being taken on the line .fr as of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section on the same line, showing the table folded up; and Fig. 3 is a plan of the table inverted.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A and B represent the two sections of the table, which are hinged together at the joint C by the treblejointed hinges D, which are fitted in recesses E in the edges of the top below the upper surface, so that the hinges will be hidden when the table is extended; and the buttons F and catch Gr are employed on the table-top, to draw the sections snugly together at the joint when extended, the said button and catch being so adjusted that they draw them iirmly together and close the joint4 eft'ectually. The legs H are pivoted to the under side of the table in socketed block I, having one Wall of the socket removed, so

that they can fold down against the table-top, as in Figs. 2 and 3; and a detachable fastening-pin, J, is substituted for the said side, and so contrived that it will fasten the leg both When extended, as in Fig. l, and when folded,

as in Figs. 2 and 3, thus serving both for a brace and a fastener for holding the leg in the folded condition. We also propose to conneet the two legs for the end of a section by a curved cross-bar, K, so arranged that the one leg employed at the middle of the section at the joint end will fold under it and be secured by it, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

We are aware that table-legs have been pivoted within a box, so as to readily fold within the same; but we do not believe that any one before has ever used the socket-blocks and pin, as above described.

What We claim isl. The table-sections A B, provided with subjacent edge-sections E E at the joint G, to receive and cover the hinges D, in the manner set forth.

2. The combination, with hinged legs H, of socket-blocks I and pin J, applied as' and fo the purpose specified.

JAMES W. HOWLAND. DELLA HOWLAND. Witnesses:

T. B. MosHEE, ALEX. F. RoBERTs. 

